Popotla, Baja California
Sunset and golden hour times for planning your evening session.
After-work glass-offs in Popotla can rival dawn patrol on good days. Afternoon thermals die, the crowd thins, and these 6 west-facing breaks catch the last clean sets of the day.
Sunset
6:15 PMDay length: 11h 22m
-2 min vs yesterday
Sunrise
6:53 AM
First light: 6:23 AM
Sunset
6:15 PM
Last light: 6:45 PM
Data from Alfonsos · Updated daily
| Day | Sunrise | Sunset | Day Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today(Today) | 6:53 AM | 6:15 PM | 11h 22m |
| Tomorrow | 6:54 AM | 6:14 PM | 11h 20m |
| Sun, Oct 18 | 6:55 AM | 6:13 PM | 11h 19m |
| Mon, Oct 19 | 6:55 AM | 6:12 PM | 11h 17m |
Today(Today)
Sunrise
6:53 AM
Sunset
6:15 PM
Day Length
11h 22m
Tomorrow
Sunrise
6:54 AM
Sunset
6:14 PM
Day Length
11h 20m
Sun, Oct 18
Sunrise
6:55 AM
Sunset
6:13 PM
Day Length
11h 19m
Mon, Oct 19
Sunrise
6:55 AM
Sunset
6:12 PM
Day Length
11h 17m
6 spots
Alfonsos is a reef break near Popotla, a few kilometers south of Rosarito, with both lefts and rights depending on swell angle. The lineup is studded with rock, so it suits surfers who can read where the reef sits on the inside and pick a clean channel out. Summer south swells are when it is most reliable.
Calafia is the right-hand point below the Calafia hotel and restaurant on the cliffs south of Rosarito, and for many surfers it is the first stop on the drive down the free road. A solid south to southwest swell makes it work best, and it can handle the daily northwest wind better than the open beaches. The bottom is rock, the shorebreak can be awkward, and water quality is only fair.
El Morro sits at kilometer 37.5, just north of the K-38 reef in the Popotla corridor. It is a rocky point that is easy to see from the road, which also means it fills up quickly when it is breaking. At low tide more rock is exposed and the wave gets less forgiving.
K-38 takes its name from the kilometer marker on the road south of Rosarito, and it is one of the most consistent waves in northern Baja. A right breaks over a rocky reef and can link into a long wall on a good day, with a left also working on some swells. It picks up swell from the south through the northwest, so there is usually something to ride. Expect a crowd when it is good, rocks and urchins on the entry, and water quality that drops after rain.
Popotla is a small fishing village just south of Rosarito, known for its fresh seafood stalls on the sand. The reef in front of the village breaks on west swell and gets shallow and chunky at low tide, when the rocks become a bigger factor. It is an advanced reef, not a learn-to-surf beach.
Renes is a beach break near Popotla, the fishing village just south of Rosarito. The sand is broken up by rocks along the shore, so the takeoff and paddle-out need a quick look before you go in. It picks up the same swell as the better-known reefs nearby and is often a quieter option when they are crowded.
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West-facing beaches with golden hour potential and evening access.
Alfonsos is a reef break near Popotla, a few kilometers south of Rosarito, with both lefts and rights depending on swell angle. The lineup is studded with rock, so it suits surfers who can read where the reef sits on the inside and pick a clean channel out. Summer south swells are when it is most reliable.
Rosarito is the nearest town for food and supplies. Access to the shoreline near Popotla is informal, so check locally and secure your car.
Calafia is the right-hand point below the Calafia hotel and restaurant on the cliffs south of Rosarito, and for many surfers it is the first stop on the drive down the free road. A solid south to southwest swell makes it work best, and it can handle the daily northwest wind better than the open beaches. The bottom is rock, the shorebreak can be awkward, and water quality is only fair.
Located at the Calafia hotel on the free road south of Rosarito. A paid lot and a cliff path lead down to the water.
El Morro sits at kilometer 37.5, just north of the K-38 reef in the Popotla corridor. It is a rocky point that is easy to see from the road, which also means it fills up quickly when it is breaking. At low tide more rock is exposed and the wave gets less forgiving.
Roadside access off the K-38 corridor. Park where you can see the car and keep valuables out of sight.
K-38 takes its name from the kilometer marker on the road south of Rosarito, and it is one of the most consistent waves in northern Baja. A right breaks over a rocky reef and can link into a long wall on a good day, with a left also working on some swells. It picks up swell from the south through the northwest, so there is usually something to ride. Expect a crowd when it is good, rocks and urchins on the entry, and water quality that drops after rain.
The lots near the break are paid or guarded. Petty theft happens here, so take valuables with you. Wear booties if you are unsure about the urchins at the entry.
Popotla is a small fishing village just south of Rosarito, known for its fresh seafood stalls on the sand. The reef in front of the village breaks on west swell and gets shallow and chunky at low tide, when the rocks become a bigger factor. It is an advanced reef, not a learn-to-surf beach.
The village sits right off the free road south of Rosarito. Parking is informal; ask before using private lots.
Renes is a beach break near Popotla, the fishing village just south of Rosarito. The sand is broken up by rocks along the shore, so the takeoff and paddle-out need a quick look before you go in. It picks up the same swell as the better-known reefs nearby and is often a quieter option when they are crowded.
Reached from the free road near Popotla. Shoreline access here is informal and can change.
About surfing in Popotla
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